After US Apology, Pakistan Border Still Closed

The Pakistani border crossing used to transport NATO supplies to international forces in Afghanistan remains closed Thursday, despite an apology from the United States for a cross-border raid that killed Pakistani soldiers.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abdul Basit, told reporters Thursday that authorities are evaluating the security situation and will make a decision on re-opening the supply route "in due course."

The U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, called the helicopter raid a "terrible accident" and apologized to Pakistan and the families of those killed. General David Petraeus, who leads U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, also apologized for the soldiers' deaths, saying coalition forces "deeply regret" the loss of life.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, wrote a letter to Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, expressing condolences for the soldiers' deaths. Mullen also pledged to review the incident to avoid a similar tragedy.

A joint Pakistani-NATO investigation into the raid said U.S. pilots had mistaken the soldiers for militants.

The assessment said Pakistani troops had fired warning shots to signal to the helicopters that they had crossed the border. The helicopters mistook the shots for enemy fire and launched rockets, destroying a Pakistani military post.

Separately, Pakistani security officials say U.S. drones fired two missiles in the North Waziristan region Thursday, killing four suspected militants.

There has been a sharp increase in unmanned missile strikes, with 21 in September alone.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry office said Thursday there is no justification for U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan. Spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters the attacks are counterproductive and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, hundreds of supply trucks remain stranded at the closed Torkhum border crossing in the Khyber tribal region, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from Taliban insurgents.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for two attacks Wednesday that destroyed over 40 fuel tankers.Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abdul Basit, told reporters Thursday that authorities are evaluating the security situation and will make a decision on re-opening the supply route "in due course."

The U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, called the helicopter raid a "terrible accident" and apologized to Pakistan and the families of those killed. General David Petraeus, who leads U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, also apologized for the soldiers' deaths, saying coalition forces "deeply regret" the loss of life.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, wrote a letter to Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, expressing condolences for the soldiers' deaths. Mullen also pledged to review the incident to avoid a similar tragedy.

A joint Pakistani-NATO investigation into the raid said U.S. pilots had mistaken the soldiers for militants.

The assessment said Pakistani troops had fired warning shots to signal to the helicopters that they had crossed the border. The helicopters mistook the shots for enemy fire and launched rockets, destroying a Pakistani military post.

Separately, Pakistani security officials say U.S. drones fired two missiles in the North Waziristan region Thursday, killing four suspected militants.

There has been a sharp increase in unmanned missile strikes, with 21 in September alone.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry office said Thursday there is no justification for U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan. Spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters the attacks are counterproductive and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, hundreds of supply trucks remain stranded at the closed Torkhum border crossing in the Khyber tribal region, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from Taliban insurgents.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for two attacks Wednesday that destroyed over 40 fuel tankers.